Abstract An acoustic scanning method and apparatus implemented by transmitting ultrasonic pressure waves and receiving return echoes on a set of spatially non-overlapping acoustic lines scanned along a transducer array with the active acoustic lines shifted and steered so that each acoustic line originates at an arbitrary point on and at an arbitrary angle to the face of the array. In a preferred embodiment, an extension of each acoustic line may also pass through a substantially common vertex that is not on the face of the transducer array, but preferably behind it a selectable distance to provide an extended field of view. The extended field-of-view is defined by the selectively variable location of the common vertex of the acoustic lines and the physical ends of the array, may use the entire transducer array in the near-field, has high quality resolution in both near and far fields, and may simultaneously transmit and receive two or more ultrasound beams from the same transducer aperture.
A method for scanning an array of individual transducer elements for obtaining image or Doppler data from a section of a body against which the face of the transducer array is placed comprising the steps of propagating acoustic pressure waves and receiving acoustic echoes on a set of acoustic lines each of which is spatially nonoverlapping and independent from every other acoustic line, steering the angle of the active acoustic line relative to the face of the array so that an extension of the acoustic line passes through a substantially common vertex which is not located on the face of the transducer array; and near the physical end of the transducer array focussing the acoustic beam and receive echoes along each scan line with transducer elements adjacent to but not centered around the intersection of said acoustic line and the face of the transducer array.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for scanning an array of individual transducer elements for obtaining image or Doppler data from a section of a body against which the face of the transducer array is placed comprising the steps of propagating acoustic pressure waves and receiving acoustic echoes on a set of acoustic lines each of which is spatially nonoverlapping and independent from every other acoustic line, steering the angle of the active acoustic line relative to the face of the array so that an extension of the acoustic line passes through a substantially common vertex which is not located on the face of the transducer array; and near the physical end of the transducer array focussing the acoustic beam and receive echoes along each scan line with transducer elements adjacent to but not centered around the intersection of said acoustic line and the face of the transducer array.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 further including near the physical end of the transducer array adjusting the aperture of active transducer elements of the array adjacent to but not centered around the intersection of said acoustic line and the face of the transducer array.